Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom is no change or shadow of turning.
• James 1:17 •

God is the source of life, love, and blessing in our interpersonal relationships, especially those among family members. For a man, one of the dearest of blessings to be received is that of fatherhood along with a heart for his children.

I hold it third among those high-level relationships involving our spirit and soul, the first being the incomparable relationship with my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ that began in 1979 after my spiritual rebirth in Christ. Next follows my relationship with my wife Judy, which began from the moment I first saw her in 1967. Then after five blissful years into my marriage with Judy, I began this marvel of fatherhood with the births of my two very special daughters.

The occasion surrounding the birth of my first daughter filled me with excitement, anticipation, and joy, as one would typically expect. Three years later during the arrival of my second daughter, I experienced contrasting feelings because that time included some serious complications, followed by a miracle of God’s healing power. That experience humbled me greatly before the Lord; it revealed to me a greater appreciation of the wonder of procreation, the power of prayer, and God’s mercy toward us.

I’ve  treasured my time with my daughters since those moments when I witnessed their births and first held them in my arms. I am so thankful to God for the unique relationship I’ve shared with each of them over the ensuing years.

Nurturing our daughters’ comprehensive growth in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ has been an awesome learning experience both for me as their father and for Judy as their mother. God’s promises and His blessings on parenthood have revealed to our hearts many spiritual wonders relative to our Abba Father’s deep love for us as His children. For God so loved the world…because God is Love.

Judy and I rejoice in the fact that God continues to abundantly bless our daughters both as godly wives to their husbands and as passionate mothers to our beautiful grandchildren. God continues to fulfill beyond measure many shared hopes we’ve had for our daughters. We consider this blessing as a living legacy to the glory of the Lord for the ages to come.

I wish to encourage young fathers by reminding them of God’s faithfulness in every situation that arises. You have an Advocate with the Father, who loved you first and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for your sins and transgressions.

When disciplining and nurturing your child in Love, remember that the Lord is still continuing His eternal and incomparable work of grace within you also. God’s discipline may be perplexing at times, but realize that it is perfect for you according to His will.

God’s message to the Hebrew Christians was that He disciplines His children so they can mature spiritually and mentally in and through the power of the Holy Spirit:

Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us,
and we respected them.
Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time based
on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit,
so that we can share His holiness.
No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful.
Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness
to those who have been trained by it.
• Hebrews 12:9-11 •

God’s eternal Love song continues: He’s still working on us.

Robert Watson is a Sanford, NC, native, now semi-retired. He is a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and educator. He’s also a big fan of in the Quiver.